3 reasons why Russell Westbrook won’t leave Oklahoma City Thunder
With the recent departure of the former face of the franchise, Kevin Durant, the Thunder shift their attention to the new face of the franchise, Russell Westbrook.
Ignore the talk about Westbrook leaving town for now at least, because one of the most reputable sources in the league thinks he’s staying. Adrian Wojnarowski says he’s staying long-term so it must be true, right?
If you’re still a little bit uneasy about it, just digest a few reasons why he knows Oklahoma City is his best option and rest easier tonight.
He’s staying because he’s finally ‘the guy.’
Something everyone alluded to early in his career. Russell’s authentic personality reflects a man that wants to be number one, he doesn’t enjoy being second to any team or player. He did what was best for the Thunder all these years by taking a backseat role to Kevin Durant even though this team seemed to be Westbrook’s team the past two seasons (possibly why Kevin wanted out). Now he can be rewarded with a chance to be the undisputed leader of this team.
It won’t affect his other career opportunities.
It doesn’t make much sense when people ramble on and on about Russell possibly going to cities like Boston, New York, Chicago, or Los Angeles because of his alternate career in fashion and modelling. It is 2016. There are multiple ways to get his product out there without having to actually live in a mega-city. Social media is a new concept many apparently forgot about and a tool used to essentially shrink the world.
There are people in cities like Oklahoma City, Memphis, and Denver that get the same attention that people in those big cities get in this profession because of social media. So, if Russell’s fashion sense is as good (or unorthodox, depending on your fashion views) as advertised, he shouldn’t have any problem moving forward in that department. Secondly, I don’t think that will have as significant of an impact on his decision as some think. First and foremost, Russell is a professional basketball player. He’s going to make the best basketball decision.
Why move to another city where he’s going to have to start over, potentially rebuilding a franchise, along with relationships with players, coaches and fans of a new city when he’s already built all of that up here?
Financially, it’s just a better deal.
If you didn’t grow up in Oklahoma City, you may not know that it’s 144 percent cheaper to live there in comparison to Los Angeles. Westbrook’s presumed contract next summer will be worth around $200 million. That would obviously go worlds further in the 405. The things he could afford there, plus having the majority of a very close-knit Oklahoma City family practically worshiping him should win him over. Thinking ahead, Oklahoma City is a growing city, still. And Russell can be the Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan or Dirk Nowitzki of OKC. Practically a god.
Of course, no one really knows what’s next for this Oklahoma City team that’s suffered greatly by losing Durant. But when Russell Westbrook asks kids at his Why Not Foundation’s basketball camp if they are coming back, followed by a promise that he’d be back for next year’s camp, there’s a little more hope in the hearts of Thunder fans.
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